This course provides business professionals with a strategic understanding of how blockchain is reshaping the financial services industry. You'll begin by building a solid foundation in blockchain fundamentals, including how digital assets, smart contracts, and decentralized systems work. Next, you’ll explore how blockchain is powering the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi), offering new models for asset exchange, identity, and compliance—while addressing long-standing inefficiencies in traditional financial infrastructure. Finally, you’ll examine how blockchain is being applied across fintech, from stablecoins and securities tokens to decentralized insurance, global payments, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in blockchain economics. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to evaluate real-world blockchain use cases, assess risks and opportunities, and make informed decisions about integrating blockchain-based solutions in financial contexts.

This course is non-technical (i.e. no coding required) and is intended for a broad audience. It draws on remixed content from our "Blockchain Revolution in Financial Services Specialization" our “Web3 and Blockchain in Global Commerce Specialization,” and our "Generative AI and Blockchain" course.